Pope Tawadros says Egyptians voting in election is ‘national duty’

Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has urged Egyptians to “fulfil their duty” by taking part in the presidential election. (REUTERS)
Updated 24 March 2018
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Pope Tawadros says Egyptians voting in election is ‘national duty’

CAIRO: Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has urged Egyptians to “fulfil their duty” by taking part in the presidential election set to begin on Monday.
Pope Tawadros said he expects the entire world to be focused on the turnout of this presidential vote during a recent sermon, according to Al Masry El-Youm.
“I appeal to every patriotic, honorable, sincere Egyptian national to not to deprive the homeland of (their) duty. Positive participation in the presidential election is a duty like a soldier’s duty on the front (lines).”
He encouraged participation in the voting process despite expecting a ‘certain candidate’ to sweep to victory.
“It seems that a candidate will succeed in sweeping the next presidential election,” he said.cMore voices have been calling on the Egyptian people to take part in the presidential vote.
Polls will open on Monday for voters to choose between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and little-known candidate Mousa Mostafa Mousa, who supports the former field marshal.
A group of Egyptian celebrities have taken part in a promotional video urging citizens to participate in the elections, and specifically vote for El-Sisi.


The stars list their reasons on why voters should pick El-Sisi as president for a second term by recounting “the numerous challenges” he went through during his time in office, according to news website Egypt Today.
“He made us all believe that our dreams could come true,” says one actor.
“Four years ago, we all headed to the presidential election ballots, we all gave our votes to President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi for the presidency of Egypt. Many accomplishments took place during those four years,” noted actor Ahmed Abdel Aziz said.


Katz orders West Bank raid after deadly attack in Israel

Israeli soldiers walk during a raid in the occupied-West Bank city of Qabatiya, north of Jenin, on February 23, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 26 December 2025
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Katz orders West Bank raid after deadly attack in Israel

  • Friday’s stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel triggered the minister’s action

JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the military to launch an operation in the village of Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank after it emerged that a Palestinian who killed two people came from there.
The minister instructed the Israeli forces to “act forcefully and immediately against the village of Qabatiya, from which the murderous terrorist emerged, in order to locate and thwart every terrorist and strike the village’s terror infrastructure,” Katz’s office said in a statement.
“Anyone who aids terrorism or sponsors and backs it will pay the full price,” it added.

BACKGROUND

Friday’s attack comes just days after Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the Qabatiya area.

The military said in a separate statement that it was preparing to begin an operation in Qabatiya in the northern West Bank, which has seen repeated violent incidents.
Friday’s stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel triggered the minister’s action.
The assault came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank, where violence has surged since the war in Gaza began.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over,” Israeli police said in a statement about Friday’s attack, adding that the victim was a 68-year-old man.
“Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander,” it said, adding that the attacker was taken to hospital.
Both victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said in a statement.
MDA also reported that a 16-year-old was slightly injured when “hit by a vehicle.
The Israeli military said the attacker had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago.”
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack.
Friday’s attack comes just days after Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the Qabatiya area.
The military has launched an investigation into the incident after footage emerged showing the teenager not posing any threat or throwing anything at soldiers who shot him.
The attack on Friday also came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the 
West Bank.
In videos on social media purporting to show that incident, the victim is seen praying by the roadside when the soldier rams him with his vehicle.